By Libya Herald staff.
Tripoli, 29 October 2014:
Libyan Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni has directly stated, for the first time, that he is . . .[restrict]willing to negotiate with armed groups.
In an interview in Khartoum with BBC Arabic Service, Thinni said he would be willing to negotiate if the groups would agree to disarm and quit from Tripoli. He also said negotiations would be dependent upon these groups’ willingness to recognise the House of Representatives (HoR) and the legitimacy of his government.
It is unlikely that the Misratan-led Libya Dawn militias will agree to such terms. From the beginning they have refused to recognise the legitimacy of the HoR and have used that as a primary reason for their hold on the capital.
The Prime Minister’s announcement is reported to be linked to claims of a split within the HoR over whether or not there should be negotiations with those who oppose them. Reports that some members were trying to gather support to dismiss him because he was unacceptable to those boycotting the HoR have not been confirmed but sources in the House have spoken of a row involving at least two prominent Benghazi members over the issue dialogue. Aisa Al-Araibi is alleged to have told Siham Sergiwa that there could be no negotiations with the opposition and that she should resign for supporting such moves.
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